Sitting Grand Prix 1 - Windebank's enjoyment from sitting scene

Set up in 2009 – with a first set of Finals contested in 2010 – the competition was originally created to help feed players into GB squad ahead of the London 2012 Olympics. 

13 years on and the competition is still going strong and still developing internationals – with both the men’s and women’s teams hoping to qualify for Paris later this year. 

But also, more importantly, it’s also an environment where all are made to feel welcome, get the chance to meet new people and have fun. 

That’s certainly been the case for Carl Windebank, for whom playing sitting volleyball has been a rewarding experience – and opened up new horizons. 

The South Hants player has just got back from the Invictus Games 2023 in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the UK team agonisingly missed out on a bronze medal, finishing in fourth place after being edged out in a titanic play-off match with Georgia. 

Carl has come a long way in a short space of time, having only taken up the game just over a year ago after meeting his club coach (Rich Osborne) at an adaptive sports event. 

“I have massively enjoyed it since I started playing,” said Carl. “It was something that I never knew about before I had my injury and I had no pre-existing ideas before I started playing. 

“The Invictus Games was amazing, with all the different nations coming together for a shared experience. The atmosphere was incredible. 

“After having my leg amputated, I have just taken the approach with this that I just want to go out and enjoy it, which I have.” 

Having been promoted from Tier 2 at the end of last season, South Hants are looking forward to testing themselves against the best teams in this first round of Tier 1 matches. 

They will take on reigning Champs Sitting Bucks, as well as 2022-23 runners-up Help for Heroes, Salisbury Spitfires and Lincoln Imps.  

Competing in Tier 2 will be Panthers, Telford, Nottingham Casualties and Help for Heroes 2, the latter two teams making a welcome return to the fray for 2023-24. 

Carl said: “Having come up into the top tier, it’s hard to say how we are going to get on, but hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves and play some good volleyball like we did last season. 

“We are going to give it a good go, but it is too early to say how we will do and how strong the other teams will be. 

“We are looking forward to measuring ourselves against the best teams and I am very excited to get started.” 

Each team will play all the other teams in its tier this weekend, with the bottom team in Tier 1 at the end play switching teams with the top team in Tier 2. 

This process will be repeated across the next four Grand Prix weekends, giving all Tier 2 teams the chance move up with a string of strong results.  

At the end of the first five Grand Prix, the four teams with the best records across the series will go forward to a play-offs in March to decide the season’s overall champions. The remaining five teams will vie for Tier 2 glory. 

Check out the Volleyball England social media for updates over the weekend, with full details of results to follow on Monday.